Carpet-cleaner.



F. J. QUIST & A. E. ANDERSON.

CARPET CLEANER.

' APPLICATION FILED MAR. 2. 1916.

Patented Mar. 12,1918.

3 SHEETS-SHEET &.

)1. 6 Ina arm.

F. l. .QUIST & A. E, ANDERSON. CARPET CLEANER.

APPLICATION HLED'MAR. 2', I916.

. Patented Mar. 12, 1918.

v3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

zoz fiwv F. l. QUIST & A. E. ANDERSON.

, CARPET CLEANER. APPLICATION FILED MAR. 2. ms

1 ,258,81 1 Patented Mar. 12, 1918.

I 3 SHEETS-SHEET 3- .TIUNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANK J. QUIST AND ANDEBS E. ANDERSON, OF WORCESTER, MASSACITUSETTS, ASSIGN- OBS TO DOMESTIC VACUUM CLEANER COMPANY, OF WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS,

A CORPORATION OF ,MASSACHUSETTS.

' CARPET-CLEANER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

' Patented Mar. 12, 1918.

and is particularly adapted for that type of combination cleaners in which an electric motor is used to produce suction and a brush is employed operated by rollers traveling on the floor, but some of the features of the invention are applicable to the pneu-' matic type of cleaners in which the suction is produced by other means and others to brush sweepers.

The principal objects of the invention are to provide a carpet cleaner of the brush and suction combination type in which the range of operation of the suction shall extend beyond the ends of the brush and the mechanism for operating the brush shall not extend beyond the ends of the suction nozzle so that this operating mechanism will not limit the range of effectiveness of the device, and will permit it to work up to; the edges of a room; to provde means whereby the brush bearings are prevented from being clogged with hair or threads; to provide an improved form of casing which will house the brush and also most of the operating means therefor and which can be made of sheet steel, so that it will have a maximum of strength with a minimum of weight; to provide a brush operating mechanism of an improved type so that the brush and operating wheels can be adjusted together or independently; to provide improved means for attaching the brush to its operating mechanism so that it can be readily detached and replaced; to provide improved means for preventing the drawing of a carpet or the like up into the nozzle; and to provide an improved form of handle adjusting device.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, in which'- Figure 1 .1s a side elevation of; a

combina;

tion electric and brush sweeper constructed in accordance with th1s inventlon;

Fig. 2 is a plan of the same onenla'rged' scale;

Fig. 3 is a front elevation thereof;

Fig. 4 is a bottom plan;

-Fig. 5 a detail sectional view on enlargedscale on the line 5'5 of Fig. 4:; Fig. 6 is an end view further enlarged;

Fig. 7 is a front view of a detail of the brush supporting mechanism;

Fig. 8 is a front view of an adjusting device for the operating wheels;

Fig. 9' 's a plan of the brush and brushoperating mechanism with the casing. broken away;

Fig. 9' is a sectional view on the line 99 of Fig. 9.

Fig. 10 is an end viewof the brush showing the means for attaching it to the operating stud which is shown in section;

Fig. 11 isa side view of the handle holding and adjusting device, and

Fig. 12 is a View similar to a Fig. 6 showing a modification-i x The invention is illustratedin a form portion of -11, and ifallcasing 12 secured rigidly to-' gether. 1 fan is operated by the motor for drawing the air from the casing 10 and delivering it to a dust-bag 13 through a connection 16. i The motor is supported p'referably'by a single rofl-l'er 14 at the rear while thecasing 10 may be supported by a pair of rollers 15 and is usually adjusted so that these constitute the support at this end of the structure.

The casing 10 is providedwith a laterally enlarged main section which preferably has a comparatively wide slot 17 in its bottom Wall. The main casing is provided with two flatends 18-at the ends of this slot and beyond each of these is a projection 19. integral with the casing and provided with a passage or extension 20 of the slot. This extension is shown as narrower "than the slot and preferably is narrower because no brush extends into it.

. ,Theprojection 19 is preferably of a low flat character constitutinga shelf for supsheet metal bearing member 24 is adj ustably secured to it by screws 25. This bearing member is shown of will-shaped form so as to afford two bearings for a brush operating shaft 26. On this shaft is a wheel'27 between the two legs of the U-shaped bearing plate. One end of the bearing plate projects beyond the wheel and is provided with a pivot stud 28 to which is pivoted a frame 29 which extends rearwardly from the pivot and across the casing at the rear. This frame is provided with a sheet metal slide 30 thereon to which is secured a stud 31 on which one of the operating rollers 15 is rotatably mounted. These operating wheels are provided with soft rubber tires which engage the carpet and also the wheels 27 to operate them. 'This frame 29 is provided with a stud or pin 32 adapted to enter any one of a seriesof holes 33 in an adjusting plate 34 fixed to the fan casing 12. The back plate of this frame is of spring metal so that it can be moved forward and back enough to engage and disengage the pin 32 for adjusting purposes.

The frame 29 is also provided with a longitudinal spring 35 which bears on projections 36 on the rear ends of the slides 30 to force the rollers 15 into contact with the wheels 27 with a spring pressure.

- From this construction it will be seen that the studs 31 or rather the rollers 15 can be raised or lowered about the pivots 28 and also that the brush 0 crating shafts 26 can t be raised or lowered y a true vertical motion by raising the bearing plates 24 along the slots 23 at the two ends of the casing.

The casing 10 is formed of sheet steel stamped up in dies and welded and is formed so as to have a graceful curved "shape throughout, except that its ends 18 make an angle with the projection 19 and the top of the casing. Atthis point a space is provided for'the reception of the parts for operating the brush as has been dedirt in them, a pairof end caps 37 are provided, each one. also of sheet steel and secured to the end wall 18 and to the end of the projection 19. These caps are shaped in dies to form a graceful continuation of the outline of the main casing, and to cover also the ends of the projections 19. They are removably located in position so that it is an easy matter to get at the screws 25 for adjustment. :Yet they permit the location of the operating parts outside the casing v and the extension of the dust slot outwardly at 2 0 to permit of using the suction part of the cleaner clear up to the surface against which the end of the casing comes. The movable operating parts except the shafts do not have to pass through the walls of the casing in order to secure these results. It will be understood that the ends 18 are provided with vertical slots 38 up and down which the shafts 26 are adjusted. By. making the casing 10 and ca s 37 of sheet steel they can be made ve t in and light without sacrificing strengt The manner of mounting and dismounting the brush is'also a feature of this invention. Each of the brush operating shafts 26 is made with a non-circular end 39 and the brush 40 is providedwith a shaft 41 having two metallic ferrules 42, one of which has a slot centrally located of the same shape as the end 39 so that when placed in position the brush is positively rotated from this shaft. 'The other one of these metallic ferrules is provided with a slot 43 extending from the edge to the center for the reception of the corresponding end 39 on that shaft. -Also secured to this ferrule 42 is a sheet metal bracket 45 having a bifurcated end 46 provided with a substantially circular socket adapted to receive the circular portion of the brush operating mounting of the bearings-for the brush outside the casing so that they will not get clogged up by hair and threads passing by them. To make this practical each of the brush studs or shafts 26 is provided with a felt washer 47 and a flat metal plate 48 arranged loosely just outside the slot 38. The plates are pressed inwardly by spring projections 49 and the suction also tends to hold the washers against the ends of the casing so that the entrance of air is prevented and yetthe brush can be moved up and down.

On account of the wide opening necessary to permit the brush to perform its. functions properly there is a ten ency for a carpet to be sucked up slightly into the slot. To prevent this we have spring wire bars 50 extending across the slot in the lane thereof. Each of these wires is provid with a hookshaped end 51permanently hooking into an opening in the casing at one edge of the r 1,258,811 s I at that edge and the wire can be swung to one side and then brought over into a trans.- verse position where its end springs; into a notch 52 in the other side'which holds'it; from lsidewise motion. It is held 'in' "the v i scribed-only two embodiments of the invennotch by the spring of the .wire.-';

1 The machine is o erated'by 'a handle5et' which is pivoted to t e'motor casing. Hand is provided with a stationary hook orlink 55. Onthe motor casing is pivoted a latch 56 which is pressed downwardly by a spring a 57 This latch is provided with two notches 58 and 59 in the under side and the spring,

readily forces it down so that either one of them will catch in the bottom of the hook 55. a This holds the handle in nearly vertical position when the device is -not in use so that the center of gravity will be between the rollers 14 and. 15 or in a rearwardly inclined position for operation. .We have shown electric wires connected with this handle for connection with the motor and also hook 60 for supporting them In the operation of the device it is only necessary to turn on the current by means of a switch 61 when the motor will operate to draw the air through the nozzle u into the casing 10 through the fan and disc arge. it into the bag 13-where the dust will collect. The device usually rests on the three rollers 14 and 15, the bottom of the nozzlenot pressing on the surface to which it is applied, but if desired the rollers 15 can be adjusted up about the pivots 28 so as to allow the nozzle to come into direct contact, with-the surface-being cleaned, The adjustment of this part is also necessary occasionally for f the purpose of cleaning diflerent, kinds'of surfaces. In all adjusted positions theroll ers 15 are yieldingly forced against the wheels 27 and receive their motion by being "pushed over thefloor. When it" is desired to adjust the brush that is accomplished by, means of the screws 25 as has been explained. It will be seen that the adjustment of the rollers 15 does not adjust the brush, but the adjustment of the brush does in this form ad ust the rollers 15 slightly in the same direction but for practical purposes the two adjustments are lndependent. Furthermore even when the brush is adjusted up into inthe wheels and the brush also by flxing thej posts 22, but the brush is not adjusted to'the casing, a bearin same saga a the, that, by this aaan.

Thebrus'hcanbe adjusted in the sameway stud-32.--y H Although we ,1 have illustrated a and de= tion'we lare. aware of theifa'ct that. many modifications can be made, therein'and cer-' tain partsof the" invention can be used on other types of cleaners without departing from thescope ofthe invention as expressed in the claims. T-hereforewe do'not wish to j v i be limited to all, the details-of construction herein. shown and described-,but what we do 1. In a cleaner, combinationwith a' casing having a slotin one wall thereof for I I V the entrance of air and dust, .of a brush located'in the casing parallel with the slot and adapted to'engage a surface over which the slot asses, said casing having a projectionat t e end thereof, provided-with an ex-v tension of said slot connected. therewith, and

operating means for the brush located outside the casing in the plane of'said p10jec-" tion arallel with the end ofthe casing.

2. n a carpet'cleaner, the combination of acasing having a slot in the bottom thereof, a brush located. in the casing over the slot, said casing having a projection at its end provided with'an extension'of the slot extending to the end ofthe projection and communicating with the slot, and operating" means forthe brush supported above said projection and just beyond the end of said casing.

ering said operating means and said projec-' tion.

4. In a'carpet cleaner, the combination of a casing, a brush therein, a pair of studs projecting through the ends of the casing from the outside for operating the brush, a wheel on the end of each stud outside the plate supporting each stud,means fora justing said bearing plates up and down, and .a pair of operating rollers in position to rotate said wheels in their adjusted positions.

3. In a carpet cleaner, the combination of l a casing having a slotv in the bottomthereof 5. In a carpet cleaner, the combination of a a casing havin aslot in the bottom thereof, a brush locate in the casing and adapted to project into'thev slot, said casing having a projection ateach endprovided with a passage extending to the end of the projection and communicating with the slot, 9. post supported by the top of each projection, a bear-1 ing plate secured to'the post and having bearings, shafts supported in said bearings and connected with said brush, a frame pivoted to said bearin plates, and brush operatingrollers carried by said frame and connected with said shafts.

6. 'In a carpet sweeper," the combination with a casing having aslot in the bottomthereof, of a brush located in said casing,

a post supported by said'casing beyond each 7. In a carpet sweeper, the combination with a casing, of a brush therein, a wheel at the end of the brush for turning it, a roller for rolling over the surface'to be cleaned engaging said wheel for operating it, means for adjusting said wheel and brush verti-' cally, means for independently adjusting the roller vertically, and means for constantly pressing the roller against the wheel. '8. In a carpet sweeper, the combination with a casing, of a brush-therein, a pair of studs projecting through the ends of said casing for operating the brush, a wheel on the end of each stud outside thecasing, a bearing plate for supporting each stud, means for adjusting said bearing plates up and down, a frame connected with said bearing plates, a pair of operating rollers carried by said franie, and means whereby said frame can be adjusted up anddown;

9. In a carpet sweeper, the combination 4 with a casing, of a brush therein, a pair of studs-projecting through the ends of said casing for operating the brush, a wheel on the end of each stud outside the casing, a U- shaped bearing plate for supporting each stud and receiving the wheel, means for adjusting said bearing plates up and down, a

frame'pivotally connected with said bearing plates, a pair of operating rollers carried by sald frame, springs forforcing said operating rollers toward said wheels, said frame having-a stud thereon at the center bracket supported in stationary and formed of spring material, and a osition and havin holes at difi'erent elevations for receiving t elast named stud whereby said aaeaeii frame can be adjusted up and down about itspivots.

10. In a carpet sweeper, the combination with a pair-of short shafts in alinement, said shafts having non-circular ends, a brush in the casing having a shaft provided with slots in its ends shaped to receivethe ends of said short shafts, one of said slots being centrally located in the end of the brush shaft and the other extending radially to its surface, whe'rebysaid brush can be removed andreplaced readily, and means on the latter endof the brush shaft for guiding the same into position with respect to the operating shaft and holding it centrally.

11. Ina carpet sweeper, the combination with a casing having a pair of short shafts" extending therethrough from opposite ends, said shafts having non-circular ends inside the casing, a brush in the casing having a shaft provided with slots in its ends shaped to receive the ends of said short shafts, one of said slots being centrally located in the end of the brush shaft and the other extending radially to its surface, a bracket fixed to the latter end of the brush shaft and having'a pair of yielding arms extending past the'end thereof near the center, said yield ing arms having opposite depressions therein constitutin a central circular socket for the .brush sha t.

12. Ina carpet cleaner, the combination of a casing having slots in its ends, a pair of brush shafts supported outside the casing beyond its ends and projecting'into the easing through the slots, air excluding washers movable with the shafts and located on the outside of the casing to exclude ai-r, springs for holding the washers against the casing and a brush in the casing detachably con nected with said shafts.

13. In a carpet cleaner, the combination of a casing having slots in its ends, a pair of brush shafts supported outside the cas ing beyondits ends and projecting into the casing through the slots, and a brush in the casing detaohably connected with said shafts, said casing having projections beyond its ends provided with air passa es the edges of which engage with the sur ace to v be cleaned, and means for operating said brush earned by said pro ections and located entirely outside the casing.

In testimony whereof we have hereunto setour hands.

FRANK J. om'sr. ANDERS E. ANDERSON. 

